JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man accused of sexually assaulting three women on three consecutive days is awaiting his day in court.
News4JAX spoke with a woman who said she witnessed one of the alleged victims running from the apartment complex where police said the attack happened.
Keilanie Vasquez said she saw the woman trying to get away from 31-year-old Brett Pincomb after investigators said Pincomb sexually assaulted her at knifepoint inside an elevator at a Southside apartment complex.
“He just tried to rape me … and he had a knife and he tried to stab me,” Vasquez said. “I was like, ‘Oh my God.’”
Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office investigators said Pincomb met all of the women through an online app. During his arrest, JSO said Pincomb confessed to sexually assaulting at least four other women.
Troy Burleson, a police chief in Omaha, Arkansas, said online dating has changed how people should think about personal safety.
“We used to do self-defense just physically for people, but now it’s internet self-defense,” Burleson said. “It’s a whole new world.”
Burleson and his partner, Scott McNeely, train people to avoid and manage violent attacks. They said people using dating and meetup apps should focus on verifying who they are talking to before meeting in person.
“Trust but verify,” McNeely said. “Verify the identity of that person that you’re meeting online. I think there’s a lot of embellishment with photographs and stories.”
Investigators said Pincomb misrepresented himself to his victims before they agreed to meet him, according to police.
Burleson and McNeely shared these tips for safer online dating:
- Do a video chat before agreeing to meet in person to verify the person’s identity.
- During video chats, ask the person to show a clock or a moving object to help confirm it’s a live call and not an AI-generated video.
- Research the person online and review their social media presence.
- Avoid meeting someone for the first time at their home or apartment.
If an in-person meeting is necessary, they recommend choosing a public location, such as a coffee shop or restaurant, and avoiding isolated areas.
Experts also said people should trust their instincts and leave immediately if something feels wrong.
“It’s OK to say, ‘You know what, I’ve got something I’m going to take care of,’” McNeely said. “Please have a good day — and walk away.”
Pincomb remains in jail on a $750,000 bond.
He is charged with four counts of sexual battery, two counts of kidnapping and one count of attempted second-degree murder.